Afraid to post?

[MiamiensisWx]

Miamiwx, althought I RESPECT your opinion, some of us here do KNOW one another and are personal friends. This should in no way reflect on the actions to discipline or to ban another but to say that after 7 or 8 years we don't "truly know" one another is not true at all. To say that MOST OF US would jump in defense of a friend who is being ambushed - well I would. Wouldn't you?

I certainly see your point and I understand some members have met each other individually and personally. At the same time, I feel this attitude is a bit divisive toward many other members and your post doesn't detract my thoughts from my original points. In addition, I personally believe this train of thought you have presented only divides the forum and has caused the problems I have mentioned. This board is not limited to the select few people you have mentioned. You have to consider all of the other members that make up 90 percent of this board. Many members are new. Some members may have met others personally but do not agree with their opinions on some issues. When they try to engage a friendly debate, they are attacked. A simple browse through the archived posts in the forums reveals the harsh truth. If you don't agree with other people who are deemed popular on the forums (or people who hold the same views as the staff), you are not welcome at this site.

I don't know the intent of your post. I have a feeling this was a ploy to put me in an unfavorable position. I'm very afraid as I write this post. I can never express my opinion without being attacked. I think my original post speaks for itself. I don't want to ruin this discussion.

[Dustin]

I get the feeling to be honest, that you guys say your changing just to save face but in reality, the rules haven't change. I may be being impatient, but that's JMO, but I don't post here much anyway.

[angelwing]

Well, this topic started on April 2, it's only the 12th, it's not going to happen overnight, I'm going to take the attitude "good things come to those who wait" so I can wait, I have a lot of patience.

[Stephanie]

I get the feeling to be honest, that you guys say your changing just to save face but in reality, the rules haven't change. I may be being impatient, but that's JMO, but I don't post here much anyway.

You only post to say how "slow it is" on this board. I have the feeling that no change that is made will make you happier because you don't really care about it anyway, JMHO.

[Rainband]

I get the feeling to be honest, that you guys say your changing just to save face but in reality, the rules haven't change. I may be being impatient, but that's JMO, but I don't post here much anyway.

I am sorry but I haven't read one constructive comment from you. JMHO but I agree with Stephanie and if you read my reply and the PM's I sent I did try to explain this to you and yet you still try and stir the pot.

[Dustin]

Well I am sorry guys. For some consrtutive cristism, could you guys approve signatures again? Also have you ever thought about changing to phpbb3?

[mf_dolphin]

The easy ones first. Sigs are not coming back anytime soon and we've been testing phpBB3 beta releases since the first beta. When it's release as a production version we will make a decision.

Contrary to what some may think the Admins have been reading this thread. I for one haven't responded until now because I felt it was a time to listen first and foremost. I will offer an apology to the general board because I haven't been around much over the last 6 months. Life interfered with my plans and family comes first. That being said, Chad and I are ultimately responsible for the board and some of what has happened probably wouldn't have gotten to this point if we had been around. That being said, here we are and the question is where we go as a board from this point forward. I'll try and address some of the specific points and suggestions ( I won't get to them all tonight but I'll try over the next week)

1. Moderators/Admins - We above all should abide by both the spirit and letter of the law. Unfortunately that hasn't always happened and I accept responsibility for that. All I can do is offer my pledge that we'll work to fix that situation. You as members also have a responsibility to let the Admins know when you feel someone on the staff is out of line. If something happens please PM one of the three or all three Admins. I won't guarantee that you'll always like our response or that we'll tell you what actions we've taken but I can assure you that it will be looked into. Every member of this board is subject to the same set of rules even if we as Admins have been negligent lately. The one thing that will get you in trouble on this board is taking on a Mod head to head on the open board. Don't do it because you will always lose. The staff as a whole devotes countless hours here and deserves our support. As I said above, if you think they are out of line PM or e-mail the Admins and let us handle it. This accomplishes two things; 1. It let's us know there may be a problem and 2. It keeps you out of trouble. I get to read maybe 10 percent of the posts on the board if I'm lucky so don't assume that the Admins know what's happening. I promise we don't bite. As Rainband shared, we have suspended and banned staff members in the past ( he's not the only one either) and neither of us is shy about doing it again if the situation warrants.

2. Political forum - Personally I loved the Political Forum. I make no apologies for being a "socially liberal - flag waving Republican" and I loved the debate with my Truely Liberal Opponents. The problem became that there was no way to keep the heat out of the other forums and quite frankly the carry over was getting worse by the day. We made an admin decision to terminate the forum and I don't see it coming back. I won't say never but it's unlikely at this time.

3. Political posts - Today's issues almost always have some political implications. We try and draw a fine line to avoid political bashing from either side. I have no problem with discussing and debating issues/events but when the "because you're a Dem/Rep" crap starts the thread will get locked. There's never been a better time to step away from the keyboard than when your blood pressure is up. I am very opinionated but I'd like to think I can still listen to another point of view even if I disagree. My rule of thumb is to try and imagine I'm talking with someone face to face before I post. If I would say it in polite company then it's probably ok to post.

4. S2K Rules - The rules are intended to let people know where the lines are. Some people don't like them but they are there to avoid out and out anarchy. We realize that some people don't like the restrictions but there are other places to post. I don't say that in a mean way it's just a fact. I make no apologies for our rules but we'll work on making sure that they are enforced more equitably.

5. Warnings/Bans - With the exception of spammers or previously banned members I know of no instances where someone has been banned without a warning and usuallly 2 or 3. Since we deal with these issues out of site of the main board the members often only see the final result. I still feel that this is the best way to deal with things even if it leaves us in the position of someone claiming they were banned for no reason. Suspended members are sent an e-mail detailing the length and reason for suspension. It's not our fault if they registered with an e-mail account they only use for registration and never check. It also states that if they rejoin under a new name during the suspension that they will be banned from the board. Listen if you break the rules take your punishment and come back when it's over. If you feel you've been treated unfairly the e-mail an admin. We will respond...

More to follow.... it's past my bedtime.

[Pburgh]

Miami, In the first place I don't use ploys. Like you, I state my opinions. In this case mine was not the same as yours and that's ok. Stating your opinion does not put you in an unfavorable position. I am simply saying that when my friends need my help, I'm there for them as I'm sure you would be with your friends. You seem to be very passionate about your values and ideas and I appreciate that.

[alicia-w]

i've never been afraid to post anything here. in fact, this has been the perfect place to learn how a certain amount of respectable restraint. Sort of a virtual counting-to-ten and holding one's breath for a minute. it is so easy to read a tone or inflection into the written word that often times, a response is totally misconstrued. upon occasion, i've just shot off my mouth without regard for the immediate consequences and issued "mea culpas" before being chastised by the administration. accountability is key, in my opinion. sure it's a free county, but it's a PRIVATE web board and subject to the rules of the owners. If there are issues you'd like to post about but cant do it here, well, heckfire, go somewhere else to do that. but there are so many things here of great interest. surely it cant be all things to all people.

[MSRobi911]

Well, I guess my head has been in the clouds cause I certainly missed this long debate. I will say that I have no problems with anyone here. I did sometimes get "high blood pressure" when reading TT about Katrina since we lost everything we ever had in life including our home but I knew anything I said would come out ugly so I stopped going in there so my blood pressure wouldn't go up! I made a decision that if I didn't have something important or nice to say, even a different opinion that I could say nicely, then I would just be better off not reading the thread in the first place. So, therefore my decision was made, just don't go in there.

Am I afraid to post in TT, not for fear of recrimination, but maybe because I feel like I am not educated enough to make an informed statement about this or that. If I have a question, I will ask it, if it has been asked before, sorry, I didn't see it so lock the thread, nothing against me, it was just a duplicate and should be deleted. I would not take any offense to that.

Do I feel like there is a "clique", I wouldn't call it that, I would say long time members know each other a lot better than they know newer members. It's just a normal reaction to get familiar with someone that has posted for a long time and you have read a lot of their posts. Does it mean that newer members have nothing important to say??? heck no, they have plenty important things to say.

I was an Office Manager for 15 years for 4 Orthopaedic Surgeons and therefore I KNOW that things go on behind doors that all members/employees don't know about and faced this every day. If I got a complaint on an employee, I didn't talk to them in front of the person complaining, I handled the situation behind closed doors as things should be done. Saying that, Mods are just like OM's they have to try and make things work smoothly and if there is a problem address it, but not out in the open so everyone sees the "dirty laundry". I would always tell the complaining person that the complaint was noted and would be taken care of and after this was done, I would inform them of my/ours(the doctors) decision and that the problem had been taken care of and if it happened again, to please let me know. I feel this is done on this board.

I have made several posts that I have had Mods check to make sure that I wasn't flaming someone and have gone back and edited the post so that it could not be taken that way. A couple of times I have made posts and ended with an explaination to the mods if they wanted to delete it, feel free, it was just my opinion, etc... and have always received a reply and have not been deleted that I know of. There have been several posts that I have typed up and then erased, just because I needed to rant and rave but didn't want to really post it, just needed to get my opinion down on the subject by typing it and getting it out of my system. There have been many that made me so mad I couldn't have typed a single word in reply without it being four letters long and you know what I am talking about! (not the subject, the words) so just have left the thread and not gone back in again or either cooled down and then made a mature reply without flaming or bashing anyone.

I love S2K and I don't know what I would have done after Katrina without all the support and yes I will say prayers, from folks on this board! I remember sitting in chat before Katrina and everyone telling me I needed to leave and goooooooo and I told them not to worry I would be fine and would leave when the time came to leave. I remember people almost screaming at me to get the H out of dodge and I took no offense, they were just worried about me and I knew it. I knew I had somewhere safe to go and I knew that we would leave when it was time to go. I appreciated their concern and their prayers. I even made phone calls to some of "my friends" here during the storm and right after to let them know that we were OK and that things were bad here. So they could post for me that my family and I were alive and OK, well I should just say alive, I guess. After going thru Katrina, nothing will every really be OK again, not the same ever again. The entire landscape and atmosphere of where we lived has changed and won't ever be the same. But hey, we will make it!

At my office, I was/am the Hurricane Lady, if there is one out there they come to me, they send me emails, the doctors call me and ask me what is going on. This is because I read what is on here and I have the advantage of my husband being the Number 3 man in the Sheriffs Dept here and he being privy to all of the information from our county Emergency Operations Center which gets its info directly from the horses mouth, the NHC. So I can't survive a Tropical Season without S2K and I feel it will go on! Thanks again to Chad and Marshall for all they do and to the Mods for the all the hard work they do that no one sees and the garbage they have to deal with too for no pay at all!

I will now step down off my soap box!

Mary

PS I was a member here for like 2 years before I ever made my first post! I just read everything and learned a whole lot!

[Janice]

Great post, MSRobi...

I am getting a little more cautious when I post these days. I only really come right before cane season to post in Off Topics. During off season, I just stop in to say Hi. I have noticed that last season and already this season, I feel different about this site. I have gotten pm's about my posts recently and I always feel a little jab in them. I think in this past year the relationship between the posters and the mods have grown apart. Yes, there is a clique here and everyone knows it and we are smart enough not to cross it. I post in Off Topics only for one reason. To give people questions to answer. People come here for many reasons, and a lot of personal reasons just to vent.
They need Off Topics. I will not leave Storm, but if I continue to get pms for reasons I feel unfair, I will just stop posting.

I am not certain all mods and admns. are aware of everything. I cannot prove it tho.

Thanks for the opportunity to vent... Hope I don't get a pm for this.

[pojo]

I'm starting to notice myself getting defensive in the Talking Tropics forum.... It's my job to fly through Hurricanes and people are starting to b!tch about the NHC not naming/sending us in fast enough... its ridiculous.

[DPTX]

I rarely post. Members are so quick with their answers that I got in the habit of just reading. We were on dial up forever and 6 or 7 messages could be posted before I could possiblly reply. I read the forums long before I registered on this site. I cannot imagine a hurricane season without Storm 2K.

[azsnowman]

I'm starting to notice myself getting defensive in the Talking Tropics forum.... It's my job to fly through Hurricanes and people are starting to b!tch about the NHC not naming/sending us in fast enough... its ridiculous.

Yep, yep....it's no different in law enforcement Shannon, your BEST is NEVER good enough!! Just ONE time I'd like to take these nay sayers and have them ride with me (or you) just ONE time and I can GAR-UN-TEE you they'd change their song and dance in the blink of an eye!

[pojo]

I'm starting to notice myself getting defensive in the Talking Tropics forum.... It's my job to fly through Hurricanes and people are starting to b!tch about the NHC not naming/sending us in fast enough... its ridiculous.

Yep, yep....it's no different in law enforcement Shannon, your BEST is NEVER good enough!! Just ONE time I'd like to take these nay sayers and have them ride with me (or you) just ONE time and I can GAR-UN-TEE you they'd change their song and dance in the blink of an eye!

I won't give them barf bags either A ride-a-long is one way to keep them in their places.

[Regit]

I'm starting to notice myself getting defensive in the Talking Tropics forum.... It's my job to fly through Hurricanes and people are starting to b!tch about the NHC not naming/sending us in fast enough... its ridiculous.

There are a huge number of people who think that the government is ALWAYS wrong, always out to screw the people, make us unsafe, and screw up everything it can. It's hard to deal with people like that.

[Janie2006]

I can't stand it when people presume to know more than the trained professionals, whatever the field may be. It drives me mad. I wouldn't want someone barging into my classroom and proceeding to lecture about my area of expertise. Just the same, I extend the same courtesy to professionals elsewhere.

Questions are fine. I have no issue with speculation, either. However, some of those responses elsewhere are just nonsensical and/or intended to be insulting in nature. Hopefully this won't be the norm over the season, but you know how people can be sometimes.

[pojo]

I can't stand it when people presume to know more than the trained professionals, whatever the field may be. It drives me mad. I wouldn't want someone barging into my classroom and proceeding to lecture about my area of expertise. Just the same, I extend the same courtesy to professionals elsewhere.

Questions are fine. I have no issue with speculation, either. However, some of those responses elsewhere are just nonsensical and/or intended to be insulting in nature. Hopefully this won't be the norm over the season, but you know how people can be sometimes.

With a possibility of a busy season, it will probably be hard for me to post... in all actuality, I'm glad... All I want to see is peace, and we all know that when Hurricanes strike people are always down each others throats... it brings the worst of everyone out. The last thing I want is to see or hear something that will cause pissed off pilots... I'm not getting on a plane when that happens and there are probably a few other crew members that feel the same way also.

I had to rant the other day... it was pissing me off that people claim to know more about the storms then the ones that risk our lives to fly through them. I do understand if you work for a wx agency or have degree in MET, but please try to understand, the ATL is lucky to have recon... other parts of the world do not.

[Shelby6977]

Altho I am new to this board I have been on others for years! There isnt always harmony in every forum and on every topic, it's the nature of the beast. Personally, I feel that "Attacks" are uncalled for, not everyone will always see eye to eye. Thats human nature. There are other boards that I have been very leary of posting on because of the backlashing that can happen. As a Moderator myself, I try to read between the lines! Sometimes it is hard but I try to keep a open mind whether I am a member, moderator or lurker. I like this board however and plan on sticking around myself. VERY friendly atmosphere here!

[wx247]

Just wondering what has been addressed??? Has anything changed?? Just curious. Thanks.